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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our services and debt collection process.

We have compiled a list of questions that were posed frequently to hopefully serve as a reference and possibly assist you with your queries about our services. If we have not offered an answer to your queries in the list below, do not hesitate to contact us.

How do you recover outstanding debts?

Our amicable process consists of a combination of letters, emails and telephone calls, made in the debtors local language. The exact sequence of our letters and calls will vary by country, based on the debt value, debtors’ response and in accordance with the culture and laws of each country. For all countries, a first reminder letter is sent to your debtor within 48 hours of receipt of the case, with a follow up call made normally between 1 to 10 days after the first reminder is sent. If there is no positive response from the debtor then between 2 to 3 reminder letters are sent and further calls are made to the debtor of differing intervals dependent on the country.

If we are not successful in collecting your debt during the amicable phase then we will provide you with our recommendations for next steps, such as legal action, including the estimated costs and timescales

How do you go about reaching the debtor?

We try to reach the debtor by email, phone calls and sometimes even by fax, depending on the information at hand. We also attempt to find additional information and trace the debtor in order to get in contact. In some circumstances, agents may be used to trace or visit the debtor's business premises.

Can you recover debts that are more than 90 days old?

When it comes to collecting overdue debts, time really is money. We do accept old invoices but in general, the older the case, the lower the chance of full collection. If the oldest invoice is 180+ days overdue, an extra 2% commission will be charged on top of the standard commission rate after a successful recovery.

Can we place multiple cases with you?

Yes, you can place as many cases as you would like us to handle. You can also place one case with us and continue to place cases as they become overdue.

When do you advise taking legal action?

If the amicable process is not successful, the collector will assess the case for legal action. This is based on the debtor’s financial status, age of the debt, estimated cost of legal action, available documentation and chance of success. The timescale and cost of legal action will differ by the debtor’s country and the size of the debt. It is the customer’s decision only to proceed with legal action, and costs will be charged back to the customer.

What do you consider to be an ‘amicable debt collection’?

The collector has several ways to reach a settlement on the outstanding debt. This usually depends on the debtor’s situation but settlement conversations are always conducted in a respectful manner. Settlements may result in a repayment plan or a deal proposal (i.e. a discount), if the entire amount cannot be paid at once.

What is Collect@Net?

Collect@Net is our online tool that helps our client be aware of anything that is happening on the case. You can:

Access each case that they have placed with us

View the history of the case

Contact the collector working on the case

Produce different reports

What information do you need from me?

When you place a debt with us, we request as much information as you can provide. We usually need invoices and contracts, but also statement of accounts and correct debtor contact information.

How long does it take to handle each case, on average?

It usually takes about 90 days to handle an amicable case. This sometimes varies based on the status of contact with the debtor. If we are not successful in the amicable phase, we will provide you with our recommendations for further actions.

What costs are associated with successful collection?

We only charge commission based on the amount of money we collect. We also apply cost and interest,which are charged to your debtor, at the statutory rate, if that applies based on the country’s respective laws.

There are usually two types of collections:

Domestic case – if we are able to collect these costs and interest, we will pay back this amount to you.

Export case – if we are able to collect cost and interest on export cases (i.e. cases outside of your registered business location), we will retain these costs.

Please note that an extra 2% commission will be charged on top of the standard commission rate for invoices that are 180+ days overdue, upon successful recovery.

What is the minimum debt amount that can be collected?

There is no set threshold for us to collect. However, the amount of the debt determines the rates that we charge.

How is a debtor asked to make payment of the debt they owe?

Atradius Collections is authorised by you to collect the debt. The debtor will be asked to make payment into an Atradius Collections bank account, before the funds are sent to yours. Our success fees are normally retained by us from any amounts paid by your debtor.

My debtor made a payment just after the case introduction. Do I need to pay?

You become a customer as soon as you place a case with us. That means that any payments made by your debtor after our involvement will be subject to our success fees. Please note that our debt collectors immediately initiate debt collection activities.

Can I be charged a fee if I withdraw the debt during the amicable process?

If you choose to withdraw the case against our recommendation during the amicable phase, a withdrawal fee may apply. However, you can choose to close the file at the end of our amicable phase at no extra charge.

Who do I ask for updates?

You can either contact case manager that is handling the case in Collect@Net or by contacting the Customer Relationship Team member that is assigned to you.

What are the upfront costs, if any?

It depends on the country. In general, we do not have any upfront costs. We only charge an introduction fee based on the location of the debtor. This is a one-off fee, following this we only charge commission on successful collection.

The statements made herein are provided solely for general informational purposes and should not be relied upon for any purpose. Please refer to the actual policy or the relevant product or services agreement for the governing terms. Nothing herein should be construed to create any right, obligation, advice or responsibility on the part of Atradius, including any obligation to conduct due diligence of buyers or on your behalf. If Atradius does conduct due diligence on any buyer it is for its own underwriting purposes and not for the benefit of the insured or any other person.
Additionally, in no event shall Atradius and its related, affiliated and subsidiary companies be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the statements made information herein.